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Teachers, principals get salary hikes for 2013-14

By Jan SchultzThe Imperial Republican Teachers and the two principals at Chase County Schools received pay increases at Tuesday’s board of education meeting. The action was part of a three hour-plus meeting. Teachers will see their base pay go up from $31,400 this year to $31,950 for 2013-14. The $550 increase in the base represents a 1.7 percent raise. With insurance benefits included, teachers will see a 2.8 percent increase in their salary package next year. For health and dental insurance, employees on the plan will be paying slightly more toward their deductible next year. The Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan at CCS will have a deductible increase next year from $800 to $950. Previously, the employee paid $350 of the deductible and the district paid the $450 remainder. Next year, employees will pay $500 of the $950 deductible, with the district paying the same $450 difference. In a change from previous years, the certificated teachers contract was approved for a one-year period only. In recent years, the board had approved two-year contracts. One other slight change in the teacher contracts dealt with notification when taking personal days. Supt. Brad Schoeppey said, currently, teachers must give three days notice when taking a personal day. Next year, the same notification must be given, but if three teachers from the same level (elementary or secondary) have already given notice for a personal day on the same date, that fourth request must get direct approval from the principal. The Imperial Education Association was approved as the teachers’ bargaining agent for the contract negotiations. The vote Tuesday approving the contract was 7-0.Principals’ increases Elementary (K-6) Principal Pat Lane and 7-12 Principal Mike Sorensen both received 2013-14 pay increases between 2.5 percent and three percent. Lane’s salary will go from $77,500 to $79,500. The $2,000 increase is 2.5 percent. Sorensen’s salary was upped $2,500 from $82,000 to $84,500, for a three percent hike. Principal contracts have usually been approved on a year-to-year basis. Both principals are covered by the same health/dental insurance package as the teachers. Both principal contracts were approved 7-0. Board members indicated there was a three percent increase in the school’s insurance costs for 2013-14. More on Tuesday’s meeting will be covered next week.